Falling! all noiselessly falling!
Dim-golden, and russet and grey;
Leaves of the Autumn soul telling,
Earth's loveliness passeth away.
_Here_ the rich strains of rare music,
Borne upwards of summer's soft gale,
Are lost in the sigh of earth's sorrows,
Or sunk in bereavement's sad wail.
_There_ shall dear households long severed
Rejoice in the anthem sublime;
Hosannas of spirits united
Shall echo o'er dirges of time.
Sickness and pain shall evanish;
The years, with their sorrow shall cease;--
O'er the glad souls of the ransomed
Eternity rolleth in peace.